Mechanism for feeding bands, labels, &amp;c.



W. 0. BRIGGS. MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED DEG. 23, 1905.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

W. G. BRIGGS. MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 6w.

' APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1905. 1,001,926. Patented Aug-29, 1911.

6 SHBETSSHEBT 2.

O 2 M M 1 a W. 0. BRIGGS.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 6w.

APPLIOAITION FILED DEC. 23, 1905.

1,001,926. Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

5 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

W. 0. BRIGGS. MEGHANISMTOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 6w.

APPLICATION FILED DEC. 23, 1905.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 4.

W. 0. BRIGGS, MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 6w. APPLICATION FILED DBO. 23, 1905.

Patented Aug. 29, 1911.

6 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

WILLIAM C. BRIGGS, OF wms'rolv SALEM, NORTH onaomnn, AssIerfoR T CAROLINA BANDING MACHINE COMPANY, A CORPORATION or NORTH CAROLINA.

MECHANISM FOR FEEDING BANDS, LABELS, 8w.

ooaaaa.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 2a, iaii.

Application flieii December as, 1905. Serial in 293,053.

T cell whom it may concern. I

Be it known that I, WILLIAM C. Bmoos, a citizen of the United States, residing at Winston Salem, inthe county of. Forsyth and State of North Carolina, have invented certain'newand useful Improvements in Mechanism for Feeding Bands, IJabels, &c., of which the following is a specification.

In my application for Letters Patentof the United States, filed November 1'5, 1905, No. 287,511, I have shown a machine especially designed for applying bands'to cigars. This machine involves, among other things, mechanism for withdrawing bands one at a time from amagazine and a carrier which.

conveys the bands one at a time from the magazine to devices which wrap the bands around the cigars. In that application claims are not made to the construction of the band feedin g mechanism, such mechanism forming the subject-matter of the claims herein.

It is often desirable to feed bands, labels,

a wrappers, sheets of paper," etc., from a magcation for patent above mentioned.

The magazine for theibands comprises apair of uprights both. of which are attached to a fixed frame, and one of which is adjustable on the frame in such manner as to ac;

. commodate bands of different lengths orto hold the bands either straight. or inclined, and both uprights'are adjustable to accommodate ,bands'of different widths. The

'bands arearran'ged in a vertical pile in the magazine, which is open at the bottom, and

rest on "rodsnear the bottom thereof. Below the open bottom of the magazine is arranged a pneumatic band withdrawing device which reciprocates vertically-into and out of the magazine causing-a bandto'adhere to it on its upward movement and withdraw/mg a single band on its downward movement and holding it in the path of'a carrier which at the proper time grips the hand held by the withdrawing device and conveys it to the mechanism where it is deposited. As soon as the band is deposited at the proper place a clamping device is brought'i'ri'to operation which holds the band securely while the carrier'is retreating.

It has heretofore been diflicult to separate labels, bands, etc., from others in a pile by pneumatic devices owing to the fact that a few of the labels, or those next the one attached to the withdrawing device adhered to "it and leave the magazine with it. To prevent this I employ novel retarding devices which are arranged below the band supports in the magazine and which engage the bands while they are being withdrawn, causing such bands as follow the lowermost one to 'be arrested and supported over thepath of the carrier. In this way one band at a time is delivered to the carrier and only one band at a time is entirely withdrawn from the magazine.

The band carrier comprises two plates, 7

one of which carries fixed gripping jaws, while the other carries movable jaws. One of the plates moves relatively to the other to a limited extent to open and close the jaws, and both plates move togetherwhile gripping a band and conveying it to its destina-- .tion,

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a'perspective view of my 'improved band feeding-mechanism showing its relation to a cigar banding device andiHuStrating-alSo the necessary driving mechanism. Fig. 2

shows a longitudinal section of the same.

Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the magazine for-the supply of bands and the mechanism for taking individual bands therefrom and delivering them to the wrapping mechanism. Figs. 4 and 5 are detail views in section of the gripping jaws of the carrier which engage the individual bands and hold .them while'being transferred from the magazine to the wrapping mechanism. B 1g.

,6 is a detail.view of one of the gripping jaws. Fig. 7 shows in elevation the magazine for the bands and thepneumatic mechanism for taking individual bands from the magazine. Fig. 8 shows in vertical section the mechanism for withdrawing bands in-' dividually from the magazine and conveying them to the wrapping mechanism. Fig, 9 shows a vertical central section on the line 99 of Fig. 7. It will be observed that the parts in Figs. 8 and 9 are in different positions. Fig. 10 is a detail view in section of the guide bar for the band conveying devices which is provided with means for exerting afriction on part of the mechanism at certain times. Figs. 11 and 12 are perspective views of the plates carrying the gripping jaws. Fig. 13 is another view in plan of the pneumatic mechanism for withdrawing bands from the magazine. Fig. 1 1 is a detail View showing an adjustment of the band magazine. i

In the drawings I have shown only enough of the main frame, A, to indicate how the parts of the band-feed mechanism may be supported and only so much of the operating mechanism, such as the power shaft, gearing, etc., as is necessary to an .understanding of the manner in which the mechanism comprising my invention operates.

-As before stated, a complete machine for feeding bands and wrapping them around cigars is .shown in my application before mentioned.

Referring particularly to Figs. 1 and 2, the power shaft, B, may be supported in any suitable hearings in the mainv frame, A. This shaft carries a belt-pulley, C, and gears at D with a shaft, E, carrying a cam, F, hereinafter more particularl referred to. The shaft, B, also gears at G with a shaft, H, carrying a cam, I,- and at J the shaft, B, gears with a pinion, K, carrying a pin, 70, which engages a slot, k, in a lever, K, pivoted to a bracket, K, of the main frame and engaging at the vertical rod, K of the exhaust pump, P, which may be of any suitable construction, the arrangement being such that as the pinion, K, revolves a reciprocating movement is given to the pump rod to operate in such manner as to produce a vacuum in theexhaust chamber, Q, which is connected with the withdrawing devices for taking bands from the band magazine. The pump, P, is connected with the exhaust chamber, Q, by a flexible pipe, p. This mechanism is similar in all respects to corresponding mechanism in my application for patent above referred to.

The magazine, R, for the bands, Y, is located at the front right hand side of the machine in a depressed portion of the main frame, as indicated in Fig. 1. -It is shown as consisting of two upright guides, R, adjustably secured to a stationary part of the machine. Each portion, r, of each guide is flanged at 1*, while the other portion Wis adjustable by ,means of adjusting devices, 1", so as to vary the size of the channels in the magazine to accommodate bands of different widths. The manner of effecting this adjustment is so clearly shown in the drawings that it need not be further described. In this way bands of diflerent sizes and shapes may be accommodated and preferably the arrangement is such that the magazine may be adjusted to hold the bands in either a straight or inclined position so that they may be delivered in this manner to the point where they are to be used. By reference to Fig. 14 it will be observed that the ide R has its face slotted at w. The adustment for the purpose of holding the band in an inclined position relatively to the line of feed need only be a very slight one and the slotted guide may be turned to a very slight extent about the axis 9f th e pivot screwas a center. This will shift the bands slightly so as to hold them at a slight angle to the line of feed. The portion r of the guides being adjustable may be propei'ly set to accommodate the inclined positions of the guide. This adjustment is sometimes important" as where bands are fed to mechanism for applying them to cigars a slight inclination of the band is desirable to accommodate cigars when tapered. By means of the'slot m andthe adjusting screw the magazine may be adjusted to accommodate bands of difierent lengths. It will be understood that the bands are piled one upon another in the magazine and rest on pins, 1', and on opposite sides of the magazine below the pins I provide retarding devices, B Each of these is shown as consisting of an arm, r adjustably attached to a stationary part of the frame and carrying a vertical plate, 7, formed with saw-teeth,

7, which do not normally engage the pile of .bands in the magazine being located below it, but when a band is being withdrawn by the pneumatic withdrawing device, pres ently described, should more than one band follow this device those not in direct contact or engagement with it, or adhering thereto, will be caught by the teeth and held between the retarding devices, thus only one band at a time can possibly be entirely withdrawn from the supply. The arms 0* are held in place by screws as shown, but these screws may be loosened and the arms adjusted to. change the position of the toothed plates relatively .to the longitudinal edges of the bands. As the withdrawing device again rises the bands held by the teeth are raised and when the device 'again lowers with a band adhering to it, other bands are caught b the teeth in a similar way should they ten to leave the magazine.

Inorder to withdraw the bands from the magazine, I preferably employ a pneumatic withdrawing device, the head or mouth, 8, of which is preferably elongated and divided as shown, and; it is adapted to operate upon the middleportion' of the bottom bandin the pile. When thewithdrawing deviceis elelower band in the pile adheres to the withdrawing device and recedes with it when it 5 is moved downward, the other bands in the pile which tend to follow the lower band being arrested by the retarding devices, R

and by the pins, 1". l/Vhen the withdrawing device descends the opposite ends of the bottom band are bent or curved upwardly so as to pass the pins 7*. The mouth 8 of the withdrawing device communicates by means of an orifice, s, with a valve chamber, 8 containing an oscillatory valve, 8 having a spring actuated reciprocating member s. The valve chamber communicates by means of a passage, 8 with the flexible tube, a, which in turn communicates with the chamber, Q, from which air is exhausted by means of an exhaust pump, P. The casing, 8 has secured to it a collar, S carrying wings or slides, S that movevertically in guides, S in the frame, and said casing is also connected with a yoke, S", that embraces the shaft, E, driven from the main or power shaft, B, in the manner before described. The shaft, E, carries a cam wheel, F, having a cam, f, with which a roller, 1), carried by the yoke engages, the arrangement being such that as the shaft, E, continuously re- ,volves the yoke will be raised and loweredand will correspondingly raise and lower the band withdrawing device at regular intervals. The valve, 3 is attached to a valverod, .9 on the outer end ofwhich is a pinion, s, which meshes with asegment of teeth, 8 on a short shaft or rod, a attached to an arm, 8, formed on the collar S The segment, 8 has-a laterally projecting arm, 8, shown in Fig. 7, which at times is adapted to engage an adjustable stop-screw, s, and at other times is adapted to engage the under side of a lever, 8 shown in section in Fig. 7. As the withdrawing device is raised and lowered by its cam, the arm, a, will alternately engage the stop, .9, and the lever,

8 and thusv the valve, 8 will open and close communication between the mouth of the withdrawing device and the exhaust. As shown in Fig. 9 the parts are elevated and the exhaust is opened, but when the mechanism is lowered the arm, s engages the. stop, 8 and the valve is turned to shut off communication between the withdrawing device and the exhaust chamber. The lever,

is pivoted at s, to the stationary frame and it is pressed upon by a spring, 8", carried by a bracket, s, so that it will remain in the position to which it is set. In Fig. 7,

:the lever is in position to engage the arm, 8

and thus open the valve, but the lever may 'be turned over to one side out of the way of the arm, 8, so that when the mechanism rises the exhaust will not operate to withdraw a band. In this way the machine may be run if desired without withdrawing bands. A bracket arm, 8 projects from the frame to a point over the arm, 8 and carries a set screw, 8, which bears on the top of the lever when the latter is in operation. After a band has been withdrawn from the magazine by the pneumatic withdrawing de vices it is seized by grippers on a carrier which convey the band to the place where it is deposited. For this purpose I employ gripping jaws which are constructed and operate in the manner next to be described.

The stationary gripping jaws, t, project from a plate, T, and the movable gripping jaws, t, are attached to a rod,t mounted in bearings on a plate, T, which latter rests on the plate, T, andthe outer ends of the gripping jaws when gripping are arranged over .the outer ends of the stationary gripping jaws as illustrated in Fig. 5. The tails, t of the movable gripping jaws project through slots, if", in the plate, T, just in rear of the stationary jaws, t, and are adapted to move endwise therein. When the plate, T, is moved to the left as viewed in Fig. 3, the tails, t, of the movable jaws will move alon the slotsand will strike the ends, t, tliereo and cause the movable jaws to be lowered in the manner indicated in Fig. 5. It will be understood that the plate, T, moves for a time relatively to the plate, T. Thereafter, the plates are moved together in the manner present-1y described. The plate, T, on one side, that is to say, the front side, as indicated in Fig. 1, is guided by a guide bar, T This bar is slotted to receive the edge of the plate, T, and it extends from the band magazine to a point near the place where theband is deposited.' Within its opposite ends it is provided with friction devices, t, which may be pieces of spring steel secured in the manner indicated and which tend to retard the movements of the plate T, and do so retard it while the plate, T, is moving relativelv to the plate, T, to operate the gripping jaws, The plate, T,vcarr1es a guide, T for the front edge of the plate, T, and the opposite or rear edge of the plate, T,'rests on a late, T attached to the slide, T to whic the rear edge of the plate, T, is firmly secured in the manner clearly shown in Fig. 3. The rod, t carries an arm, 29, with which engages a spring, t, secured to the plate, T. This spring tends to elevate the movable jaws, t. As soon as the tails. 15 of the jaws recede-from the ends, a, of the slots, the spring elevates the j aws to the proper extent.

The slide, T,'reciprocates horizontally in guides, T", clearly shown in Figs. 3 and 8, and carries the jaws back and forth between the band magazine and the place where the bands are deposited, The slide has secured torit an arm, T, which is connected by a link, T with the'upper end of a lever, T,

After a band has been withdrawn fromthe magazine by the neumatic withdrawing devices the gripping jaws in an open condition, such as indicated in Fig. 4, move to the left and then close u on a band, Y, as indicated in Fig. 5, just a ter the exhaust mechanism. has been cut off and the withdrawing mechanism has dropped to a position below the plane of theplates, T, T.

The jaws continue their movement to the left and carry the band with them in the manner indicatedin Fig. 8. When the slide to which the plate, T, is rigidly secured, reaches the end of its uide, T, and commences to recede, the p ate, T, first moves while the plate T, remains stationary being held by the friction devices, t As soon as the plate, 1, has moved to a short extent the movable jaws will be raised by the spring, t, and thus the band will be.

released. As soon as the tails, of the jaws strike the ends, 6, of the slots, the plate, T,

ably the engaging ends of tie movable jaws are constructed as indicated in Figs. 4, 5, and 6, being provided with plates, t, of rubber or similar material which will enable the jaws totake a firm hold on the band without danger of slipping.

It will be understood that the band, label or other article conveyed by the carrier may be deposited at any desired place in any machine where it is suitable to use such mechanism as I have before described. I have indicated in the drawings one way in which the bands delivered by the feed mechanism may be received and used, that is to say, I havelillustrated a device which may receive a band and which may be employed for wrappin the band around a cigar. The mechanism illustrated is similar to that shown in my application for atent above mentioned, but only part of thls mechanism is shown. j

As illustrated particularly in Fig. 1, U,

indicates a tape which passes from a spring,

drum, U, over .arms, U U supported at, u, on a frame, U. The arm, U may be stationary, whilethe arm, U is pivoted. After passing over the armsthe tape extends down to a lever, V, to which it is secured. It may be assumed that the lever isoperated by hand. After a band is deposited on the tape, U, a cigar may be placed crosswise of the band and tape and then if the cigar be pressed down the arm, U will be swung on its pivot and the cigar and band will be inclosed inthe pocket of the tape, if then the outer end of'the band, which has been reviously gummed, is moistened and the ever V is operated the band and cigar will be rotated and the former will be wrapped around-the cigar, the end of the band being made to adhere to the portion of the band which it overlaps. This operation is fully described in in .before mentioned application. I have s own in connection with this mechanism a clamping device, W, which operates to clamp the band delivered by the carrier on the tape allowing, the ca'rrierto recede without drawing the deposited band with it and 'also holding cured to a shaft, W, carrying a pinion, W

meshing with a segment of teeth, W on a lever, W, pivoted at, w, to the main frame and carrying a roller, w, traversing a groove in the cam wheel, I, 'as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The parts are so timed that as soon as a band is deposited on the tape, U, the clamp, W, is lowered and presses one end of the band against the tape and holds it securely as long as needful and at the proper time the clamp rises and re-v leases the band.-

I claim as my invent-ion:

1. The combination of a reciprocating car- 'rier, a magazine for bands or labels, comtilted or inclined withreference to the line of reciprocation of the carrier.

2. The combination of. a magazine for bands or labels open at the bottom, means therein for supporting a pile of bands at their extreme outer ends, retarding devices arranged below said supporting means, and 'a withdrawing device reciprocating below the magazine and adapted to move up into the magazine and carry bands from the retarding devices to a plane above thesupportin means in the magazine. j

3. Tie combination of a magazine for bands or labels open at the bottom, means for supporting a pile of bands therein at their extreme. opposite ends, retarding devices on opposite sides of the'pile of bands intermediatethe opposite ends of the magazine, and a'withdrawingdevice reciprocating below the magazine and adapted to move up into the ma a'zine and carry bands from supporting means in the magazine.

4. The combination of a magazine for,

bands or labels open at the bottom, means for supporting a pile of bands at their opmagazine.

band supports, and a' Withdrawing device reciprocating below the magazine and adapted to move up into the magazine and carry bands from the retarding. devices to a plane above the supporting means in the 5. The combination of a magazine for bands or labels open at the bottom, means for supporting a pile of bands therein at their opposite ends, vertical serrated plates on opposite sides of the ile of bands, adjustable arms on which t e plates are .car-

ried, and a withdrawing device 'reciprocab ing below the magazine and adapted to move up into the magazine and carry -bands from the retarding devices to a plane above the supporting means in the magazine.

6. The combination of a magazine for bands, a band carrier, means for reciprocating it, gripping devices mounted on the car rier comprising the upper and lower, lates,

the stationary gripping jaws carried y one of the plates and jaws pivoted to the other plate; means for reciprocating one of the plates, friction devices for'retarding the,

movement of the other plateand'connections between the pivoted jaws and the plate carrying the stationar'yjaws which-as-one plate reciprocates the other is also reciprocated and thepivoted jaws are moved.-

7. The combination of an open bottomed bands magazine and avertically reciprocating band withdrawing device, comprising a valve chamber having an open mouth adapted to receive a band, a valve in the valve 4 chamber, and means for opening and clos-' ing the valve as the withdrawing device re ciprocates, which are constructed at times to permit the withdrawing device to reciprocate without opening the valve.

8.' The combination of a bands magazine open at the bottom. and a vertically reciprocatin band withdrawing device comprising a va ve' chamber having an open mouth "adapted to receive a band, an oscillating valve in the valvechamber, gearing for oscillating, the-valve, an arm projecting from the gearing, and upper "andlower stops with which the arm alternately engages.

9. The combination of a reciprocating carrier, a magazine for bands or labels open at the bottom, means for supporting the bands at the bottom of the magazine, a withdrawing device reciprocating vertically below the magazine, grippingdevices which take the labels from the withdrawing device andhold' it on the carrier, and means for adjusting the magazine to chan e the angle of the labels relatively to the line of reciprocation of the carrier;

In testimony whereof, I have hereunto subscribed my name.

W. C. 11301., v V R. M. OGLENON. 

